Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Anna Berry, head of buying for cook and dine for John Lewis, will head up the list of speakers at the next BHETA (British Home Enhancement Trade Association) Networking Forum.
The event will take place on November 15 at BHETA’s headquarters at Federation House on Vyse Street in central Birmingham.
Anna will present her initial assessment of the housewares market, following her move from Health and Beauty, and will outline the future strategic direction of the Cook and Dine category within the department store group. She will also highlight opportunities for suppliers and discuss how best they can benefit from understanding and working with this multiple retailer.
Also on the agenda is Richard Butler, regional director of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry), who will explore what the market might look like in post-Brexit Britain. His presentation will also include the wider perspective on the issues that face UK PLC, based on an overview of the CBI’s members.
Richard’s views will be complemented by those of Glynn Jones, from the Bank of England agency for the West Midlands and Oxfordshire. He will update the audience on the Bank’s view of the UK economy following the vote to leave the EU, its forecast of the economic impact and opportunities likely to come, plus any policy responses both under way and taking shape.
Trend analyst Phil Pond from trend forecasting company Scarlet Opus will take to the stage too. He will reprise the presentation on design, material, colour and style trends for 2017 that he delivered to a packed house at June trade show Exclusively Housewares, in conjunction with the BHETA-sponsored trend trail.
The final speaker will be retail consultant Caroline Rowell, who has spent over 20 years in the housewares industry in various buying roles with retailers including House of Fraser and Fenwick. She will share her ideas on how suppliers can best take a product from its original conception to its landing in a retail environment. Caroline will cover the physical presentation of the product, the communication of its benefits to the consumer, its packaging style, content and pricing.
BHETA housewares sector director Will Jones commented: “Yet again we have a packed agenda with top class speakers and unique insights and opportunities – not to mention some very valuable networking. I’m anticipating a very good turnout.”
Applications to attend the Forum should be made to dc@bheta.co.uk or the member services team on 0121 237 1130 as soon as possible. The event includes a networking buffet lunch. It will start at 10am with registration from 9.30am.
